Converting Case Study
Designing for sustainability: Making a case for metal cans
However, rethinking the way products are packaged or opting for more environmentally friendly packaging solutions, can pose a significant risk to manufacturers, as small changes can have a knock-on effect on production processes. An often-forgotten consideration is ensuring that the new materials can be reliably and legibly coded with machine- or human- readable codes that last the required life of a product without impacting its recyclability. David Deagle, Domino’s North
T
American canning sector development manager, discusses the increasing demand for aluminium and steel as plastic packaging alternatives and the options available for manufacturers on the journey towards sustainability.
OLD MATERIALS TO SOLVE NEW PROBLEMS Recyclability and sustainability are often high priority areas when it comes to choosing the right packaging solution. Plastics, once renowned for their superior packaging qualities, are increasingly falling out of favour with some consumers, as issues with disposal and recycling have come to the forefront of public discussion. A recent study by Geyer et al revealed that of the almost 6300 million tonnes of
34 May 2020
he increasing pressure that companies are under to prove their eco- credentials is well documented.
plastic waste ever produced just 9 per cent has ended up in waste recycling streams, up to 12 per cent has been incinerated, and 79 per cent has accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. While a report produced by Kantar Worldpanel found that nearly half of consumers surveyed (48 per cent) saw manufacturers as being primarily responsible for tackling the plastic waste issue. Today, materials which support moves
towards a circular economy – where packaging can be reused or recycled infinitely within a closed loop system – are of increasing importance. This trend has seen some manufacturers going back to basics, with traditional, reliable, and highly recyclable packaging solutions in the form of aluminium and steel cans. Aluminium and steel are the most
recycled substrates the world over, with rates for recycling in Europe currently exceeding 2030 targets outlined in the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package (70 per cent). These materials are also unique in the
current packaging landscape; whereas plastics have a limit on their recyclability, particularly where food contact may be involved, aluminium and steel can be reused infinitely with no loss of properties, providing an exceptional option for establishing closed-loop, circular recycling of a product.
AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PACKAGING SOLUTION In recent years, we have seen increasing numbers of manufacturers making moves to adopt metal as a plastic packaging alternative. The beverage sector, and in particular bottled water, is perhaps the most notable example of this trend, having been hit particularly hard by campaigns to reduce single use plastics. In the US, Coca-Cola recently announced plans to produce Dasani water in cans, while in Europe Danone, producer of Volvic mineral water, launched L’mon – a new range of canned sparkling fruit water. The switch is also particularly prevalent in
the craft beer sector, which was once dominated by glass bottles, but has seen sales of aluminium cans increase. In 2018, according to research released by the UK trade body for drinks cans, the Can Makers, the craft can market grew by 59 per cent while sales of glass bottles of craft beer declined by 5 per cent. Size and weight may be the most notable advantage of cans in this market – a six pack of 330ml cans is not only lighter than the equivalent in bottles (84g in aluminium packaging versus 1.2kg in glass), but also smaller in physical size. Cans are therefore much more economical from a shipping perspective, and also much easier for a consumer to carry along to a BBQ or picnic.
convertermag.com
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